A balanced analysis of the upcoming primary for Mayor of Beit Shemesh

As someone who made Aliya from the USA to Beit Shemesh 5 years ago, I would like to share my perspective on the upcoming Mayoral candidates. I consider myself a Jew who loves almost all Jews (except for the few evil ones) and really love Beit Shemesh.

It can become the best place to live and a great example to other cities in Israel as a place for ALL types of Jews.

Sefardi, Mesoraty, Dati Leumi, Chareidy, Russian, American, British, South African, French, Ethiopian and more.

If you like the Incumbent Mayor from Shas and how this city has been run the past 5 years this may not be for you. However although he may have done some good things, many people think that there has been mismanagement. The streets are not always clean, many things are neglected, and many people did not like the way the Mayor handled the Orot fiasco. It was a bit reminiscent of the way Mayor David Dinkins handled the crown heights riots. I have also heard that there are some fine shomer shabbat families who have left Beit Shemesh as a result. This is very unfortunate. I would like to live in a place that is open and inviting to all good Jews.

There are 2 candidates running against the incumbent Mayor.

Eli Cohen and Aliza Bloch. There will be a poll this week and the winner will face of the incumbent.

I would like to analize 3 main points.

1. Qualification.

2. Loyalty/Allegiance

3. Electability

1. Qualification.

Eli Cohen comes from a strong organizational management background (senior positions in the Sochnut and Mekorot Water Company) He is also a former senior administrator at the Jewish Agency for many years, and has been active in the Likud party. Aliza Bloch is an accomplished school principal who is credited with turning around Bronko-Weiss School. Although Aliza Bloch has done some great work in the school system, one has to ask if this qualifies her to run a city. Yael Van Dyke is an Amazing principal in Ulpanat Gila, but I wouldn't suggest putting her up to be Rosh Haiir. There are many wonderful and great people in this city, but to run it properly you need experience. Eli Cohen is a Vatic Beit shemesh resident living here for over 30 years, more than double the amount of time Aliza Bloch has lived here. He has been active in Likud and knows his way around politicians. On this point I would say Eli has more of a background and experience in dealing with governmental institutions, million dollar budgets and managing hundreds of employers. Therefore Eli is more qualified. Eli thinks Aliza is very competent educator and would be open to appoint her as head of education or something along those lines so we can have the best of both of them

2. Loyalty/Allegiance

This is a very important issue. Moshe Feiglin from Manhigut Yehudit points out that a Major problem with Israeli politics is that in national elections we do not have local representation. We vote for a party and the party selects the MK's. The MK's can then do whatever they want with impunity. In the USA and most western democracies, people vote for a LOCAL representative. That person who they grew up with, know and trust, they send to washington to represent them nationally. If he does good for the people he is re-elected if not, not. 

If local people elected Bogie Ya'alon as an MK, and were appalled by him voting to release 104 terrorists endangering everyones lives, they would make it clear to him that they will never support him again. This may make him reconsider who his loyalty is with. The people, or the leader of his party.

Eli Cohen has been active in the Likud for many years and has lots of connections, yet for this campaign to be Mayor of Beit Shemesh he made a bold decision to run as an independent. He did not ask for the endorsement of Likud or any other National group or party. He openly says I want to work for ALL residents of beit shemesh and be beholden to you. Aliza Bloch joined the race later on and was immediately endorsed and even appointed by the National head of the Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid from Yesh Atid as well as Likud.

When comparing these 2 approaches it is blatantly obvious where the loyalty of each candidate lays. 

Eli Cohen specifically and intentionally rejected running as a Likud candidate since he wants to represent ALL residents of Beit Shemesh. Including Sefardim, Chareidim, Dati Leumiim and everyone. Balancing the interests of the many different groups in Beit Shemesh is a hard enough job to do. The last thing a Mayor needs is to have a conflict of interest and have to answer to and show loyalty to a national leader or party. He should be working exclusively for YOU the resident of Beit Shemesh and NO ONE ELSE.

On the other hand. Aliza Blochs Campaign was endorsed and funded by Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid. This is a conflict of interest and means that she must show loyalty to people and parties that do not live in Beit Shemesh, and quite frankly have no vested interest in it's future and growth. While I may agree with many things the Naftoli Bennett does in a National arena, and may even vote for Bayit Yehudi, he is NOT a resident of Beit Shemesh and has no business telling us who to vote for, who is more qualified, and who will be better for the future of Beit Shemesh.

Would Naftali or Yair Lapid like if we Beit Shemesh residents told them who to vote for in Ranana for their local elections? I understand why he wants to have people loyal to him become the Mayors of cities in different parts of Israel. This may be good for him on a National scale. But WE residents for Beit Shemesh need to think about what good for us LOCALLY even if we agree with those 3 parties on National issues. Unless their leaders live here, they have no business telling us who to vote for.

Dov Lipman is the only local MK and at least has the right to have an opinion on the issue. But my feeling is that his endorsement of Aliza was a result of him towing his party line and supporting his party leader. I would not be surprised if he thought Eli Cohen was more qualified. Feel free to ask him. This is a great example of how the current political system can put MK's in a conflict of interest. Having to choose between the local people and their parties leaders interests. Suffice to say whoever affect their future career more will likely get more allegiance.

Amazingly 4 members of the local Bayit Yehudi faction have crossed lines, and defied the candidate choice of their party leader.  Shalom Lerner, Jacky Edri, Dr. Sammy Ben-Adi and Mishael Nechami ALL from Local Bayit Yehudi have endorsed Eli Cohen! They have ALL jeopardize their future with that party in order to be loyal to the residents of Beit Shemesh. This is democracy at it's best and should set the tone for political reform in Israel that will enable people to vote for local representatives who will go on to represent them nationally as well. They all deserve to be commended for standing up for YOU the people.

Any national party or leader who is not local resident that tells local branches who should be the candidates and leaders without letting the locals vote for themselves, is acting like a dictator and showing contempt for the local residents. This applies to ALL parties that do this, weather it's Bayit Yehudi, Yesh Atit, Likud or Shas. This is the opposite of how a democracy should work.

3. Electability

Finally the issue of electability. 

A neighbor of mine said how can you support for Eli Choen? he doesn't wear a Kippah and is not frum.

The first thing I said was Frum is a 4 lettered word that starts with an F. Then I said, My Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Wein says  "It's not the kind of Yarlmuka that matters it's what's under your Yarlmuka that matters"

He said "well he doesn't even wear a Yarlmuka" I said to him you're missing the point. It's what's in the persons head, his intentions. As far as I know Eli Cohen is a Masoraty Traditional Sefardy Jew. He is not Mechalel Shabbat and the 2 times I saw him he was giving a Dvar Tora from the parsha and wearing a Kippah. He is very humble, does not have an inflated ego, is sincere and genuinely cares about ALL residents of Beit Shemesh. He respects Tora, Rabanim and Tora institutions. To disqualify him because he does not wear a kippah is very small minded. Besides perhaps after becoming Mayor of a mostly Shomer Shabbat city he will begin to wear a kippah regularly.

I then asked him, if there was an election for the Mayor of London and a Liberal frum Jew was running against a conservative christian and he thought the christian was better, would he vote for the the Jew? He said "well that's different it's not in Israel" I then asked, so when the Gerer Rebbe endorsed Mayor Nir Barkat in Jerusalem against a Frum Chareidy incumbent Mayor, was the Gerer Rebbe wrong??? Did he pick the wrong guy? He said "ummm you got a good point" As far as I know Mayor Nir Barkat is a great Mayor for Jerusalem he is a qualified pro and truly represents all the residents. He is loyal to the people, land and torah of Jerusalem and Israel. 

Eli Cohen can be the Nir Barkat of Beit Shemesh uniting the people and making Beit Shemesh a better place for ALL the residents.

Although I have NO problem whatsoever with a woman in office as an MK or Mayor, I also think it is permissible according to Halacha. Unfortunately not everyone shares that view, especially in the Sefardi circles. I would even say it's against their religion to put a woman in a dominant leadership position. We can both agree that this is unfortunate, but it is what it is. Beit Shemesh is not Netanya. There are lots of Sefardim and even Chareidim that realize they can actually have a better quality of life if Beit Shemesh were cleaned up and managed professionally, bringing business and opportunities here creating more parks, public infrastructure and facilities, more school buildings for EVERYONE etc. These people very well may vote for Eli Cohen for a change and step up, but may not be able to bring themselves to vote for a woman. I believe all honest polls show that Eli Cohen against the incumbent has a much better chance than Eliza Bloch against the incumbent, for this and the other 2 reasons.

In Summary:

In my opinion, Eli Cohen is more qualified, he has proven his loyalty to YOU the resident of Beit Shemesh and no one else, and stands the best chance of winning against the incumbent Mayor.

Since rama Gimmel, Daled has been zoned to specifications of a more Hareidy crowd, the influx of many thousands of Hareidi families in RBS over the coming five years, will mean that the 2018 election will likely go to a Hareidi candidate. Hopefully, Eli will be able to credibly oppose incumbent mayor, in what will probably be the last opportunity for the city of Beit Shemesh to remain open and inviting to ALL jews, also keeping our real estate value strong.

Since I am not sure which lists will let this post go though, 

If you appreciate this analysis please forward it to everyone you know in Beit Shemesh now BEFORE the poll this week.

Thanks

Shimmy, Rachael, Elisheva, Doni, Zevy, Deena, Aviva Walfish are HOME!!!

The most awesome thing happened this month.
Shimmy, Rachael, Elisheva, Doni, Zevy, Deena, Aviva Walfish made ALIYA!!!
YAY!!! The Walfish's are coming home to Israel our home land one at a time.
They are living in Neve Daniel and are real settlers. Frimmi Levi and Yehuda joined us.
We look forward to greeting them and the next familys. Perhaps the Neve Daniel Walfish can post some entries when things calm down a bit. Their lift is arriving tomorrow B"H

Check out their arrival.

and more Photos at:

https://www.facebook.com/swalfish/media_set?set=a.10153101281800145.1073741826.540440144&type=3

Next Year In… Milwaukee?

I just want to mention, that when I saw adds for this fair I emailed Rabbi Fass from Nefesh Bnefesh to see if they were invited. He replied no. I then emailed the heads of the OU.

Shalom,

Why isn't Israel one of the Options for Jewish Relocation? 

Why wasn't Nefesh Bnefesh invited to this event??

Wouldn't it make sense for the OU to promote relocation to Israel as ONE of the options for American Jews who pray to return to their homeland every day???

http://nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/community-a-housing/community-guide-beta-listings.html

The 2 replies I got were

Weinreb, Tzvi H.

You are absolutely correct. However, none of the three individuals to whom you addressed your e-mail are responsible for this program. I will forward your e-mail to those who are. THW

and

Genack, Menachem

You are right.

I sent your note to Steve Savitsky who heads that program and is the chairman of the board of the OU

Next Year In… Milwaukee?

Why wasn't Israel included in the Jewish Communities Fair?

By: Yishai Fleisher

Published: May 3rd, 2013

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Why wasn't Israel included in the Jewish Communities Fair?
Photo Credit: Yishai Fleisher

I finally went to the Orthodox Union’s annual Jewish Communities Fair. As a long-time pro-Aliyah activist, I had been curious about this event, and so while on tour in America, I joined the hungry Modern-Orthodox masses at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Pavilion as they searched for new communities and a new life in far flung locales like Jacksonville, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin – but not Israel.

I expected to see a moderately attended event. But to my surprise, the venue was packed with over 1,300 people, exploring the forty-one different communities represented. There was so much noise, I had to stand close in order to hear community leaders make their pitches.

You may wonder, as I did, why would Modern-Orthodox Jews want to leave the kosher conveniences of the NY area and move to remote places like Southfield, Michigan. It turns out, that first and foremost, the answer is affordability: cheaper housing, cheaper education, and getting more for your money. A high quality of life at an affordable price. And incentives. Some communities promise incentives like a $20,000 gift for a down-payment on your home, and free tuition from kindergarten through grade 12.

Josh Elbert, who flew in to represent Southfield, shared with me how he had come to this fair a few years ago and was skeptical when the Michigan people approached him. They said to him, “Don’t judge until you see it,” and indeed, when he saw it, he was smitten. “I am a success story of this event. Because of the connections we made here, we were able to provide a terrific opportunity for our family,” he told me. Because of the drop in real estate, he mentioned, one can buy a very large home for $115,000 in Southfield. Someone who makes forty-five thousand dollars a year can live next to a millionaire.

But there are other reasons to move to the American periphery – such as the opportunity to join a tight-knit community and make an impact on a growing shul, or aging congregation seeking new blood.

I spoke with Rabbi Aaron Winter who came to Chesterfield, Missouri twenty two years ago to serve as their rabbi. He explained to me that Chesterfield is part of greater St. Louis, that they have a congregation of 80 Orthodox families, and their own mikvah and Chafetz Chaim Mesivta. He told me that his shul had succeeded in bringing many non-affiliated Jews closer to Torah. As he put it, “we are on the front lines of Orthodox Jewry in St. Louis.” Now, Chesterfield is looking to grow and they are offering up to five families a grant of twenty thousand dollars each towards the purchase of a home. “When you are an out-of-town community, even one family is gold. People appreciate you being here,” Rabbi Winter told me.

So cheaper housing, affordable education, a sense of community, and the promise of a better quality of life, are luring Jews to middle-America.

Understandable, reasonable, and respectable!

But what about the Israel option? Were any of the Modern Orthodox attendees at the OU’s Community Fair considering moving east of New York, to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv? There was no way to really know because there were no tables representing emerging communities in the emerging Jewish state. Had there been a table for, let’s say, Efrat, Modiin, or Maale Adumim, then one could gauge how much action that table saw as compared with Portland. But alas, that option did not exist. The message of the fair was clear enough: If the Orthodox Union is going to help you find a new future – it is going to be in America.

That should come as no surprise. If you go to the OU’s website, you will see lots of pro-Israel links. But if you hover your mouse over the flag of Israel at the top of the site, a text pops up which reads: “Our ‘home away from home’ in Jerusalem, the OU Israel Center, annually welcomes over 100,000 visitors and residents.” The obvious implication is that Israel is a home away from home, but home is America. Another proof of this thinking was laid bare in the ‘Communities Guide’ which was given out at the fair. In it were page after page of US destinations for “Home & Job Relocation” with pictures, contact numbers, and websites. Yet on the back cover the full page glossy called on all to: “Join Us in Celebrating Israel’s 65th Birthday – March with the OU at the Celebrate Israel Parade.” Again, the message is clear: you can celebrate Israel and love Israel with the OU, but if you’re looking to move, consider Cleveland.

And that would be fine if the name of this Jewish real estate agency that is promoting moving to anywhere but Israel, wasn’t the Orthodox Union. Orthodox in this case does not mean Greek Orthodox Christians, but rather Orthodox Jews, those who see themselves as following the Torah, an internationally and historically renowned religious document which enthusiastically promotes the spiritual superiority of the land of Israel. So why doesn’t the OU, an organization which prolifically teaches and publishes Torah, at least put a few emerging Israeli communities at the fair? Why not give Jews a chance to plug into God’s dream and not just the American dream?

The OU went all out for the Communities Fair, renting a beautiful space, printing t-shirts, booklets, creating webpages, and even a series of videos to promote the event. One of the videos humorously derides the spiritual quality of Shabbat in New York City. But the fair which the video seeks to advance, does not offer the holistic experience of Shabbat in Israel as an alternative. Attendees seeking a more serene Jewish Day of Rest are directed toward Scranton, Manalapan, and Southeast Michigan.

The OU’s under-marketing of the Israel option is sad on two levels: it is sad for American Modern Orthodox Jews, whose leadership is not encouraging them to learn about the possibility of life in Israel. Judging by the fair, Modern Orthos have a greater chance of raising their children in Bethlehem, PA than in the original Bethlehem region, Beit Lechem – Gush Etzion. As those children grow up, they will not experience the weekly majesty of Shabbat in Israel, they will not learn to speak Hebrew fluently, and most will not have the privilege of being soldiers in the IDF. Instead, they will attend Liberal Arts colleges just as their Israeli peers enter the army and they will only connect to Israel on sporadic and expensive trips, and hopefully a gap-year study program. They will be taught to love Israel, but most will end up being detached from the real life of a six-million strong Jewish State. Sad for those kids.

And it’s also sad for Israel. Our sweet homeland is yearning to become a first-rate country and it needs precisely those Jews who are being routed to Richmond, VA by the OU. American Jews who choose Israel bring with them a culture of democracy, customer service, transparency, environmentalism, big thinking and much more. American Jews are good for the development of the young Jewish State!

Indeed, Israel is the most exciting project of the Jewish people in two-thousand years, and we need all hands on deck to nurture and direct its way forward. The idea of taking part in the building of our country is exciting and attractive, and more people would embrace that attitude if leading organizations like the OU would publicly preach and teach those values.

I sincerely hope that at next year’s OU Community Fair, Neve Daniel and Ramat Beit Shemesh will be given a chance to compete on a level playing with Southfield and Milwaukee. If Orthodox Jews are already moving out of New York, shouldn’t Eretz Yisrael, which has waited for us for so long, have a chance to win their affection?

Shimmy and Rachael are here! :)

Shimmy and Rachael are here,
So far having a great time, checking out lots of things will report more when we know.

In the meantime if you want to make Aliya and are concerned about weather you can make a living here.

This is for you!

DEPT. OF LIFE CHANGING

The Secret of Making a Living after Making Aliya

In practical terms, when you first make aliyah, you indeed may not be able to make a living in your current profession.

By: Tzvi Fishman

Published: November 5th, 2012
Latest update: November 7th, 2012

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A lot of people say they can’t come on aliyah because they don’t know how they will make a living. The issue of aliyah and livelihood is a legitimate concern. For instance, here’s an email I received from a potential oleh seeking advice:

“I am a professional film producer based in NY who is looking to make aliyah.  My only reservation in moving to Israel is the lack of a job.  How can someone like myself, who was very successful in the business, and never compromised his Yiddishkeit, make a living in Israel?  I am not looking to make millions, just a living wage to support a family of six.  Do you have any suggestions?”

This is what I answered:

I’m not up to date on the film business in Israel, so I can only share some general thoughts. The Zohar teaches that our forefather, Avraham, searched for the place in the world where he could get as close to God as possible. This burning desire of Avraham was the catalyst that brought God to command him, “Get thee forth to the Land that I will show you.” To truly get close to God, the Jewish People have to be in Israel, serving God as a Nation, and not as mere scattered individuals and communities in foreign gentile lands.

Rashi explains that the double language of the verse, “Lech lecha,” literally meaning, “Go, go for yourself,” was to reassure Avraham that the move was for his ultimate good, and that it would bring him and his descendants great spiritual and material blessing. After all, it is no small challenge and test of faith to give up your country of birth, social standing, and livelihood to move to another land. And indeed, at first, things did not go easily for Avraham. When he arrived in Israel, there was a famine in the land! But, eventually, Avraham became a very rich and famous man.

This uncertainty, challenge, and difficulty, is common to all olim. The word “Canaan,” as in the land of Canaan, also has the meaning of humbleness and poverty. The lowering of one’s status is part of the immigration process, helping to break impure traits of pride and ego which prevent a person from forming a deep connection to God. Aliyah means to go up, and therefore, the first and foremost goal of each new immigrant to Israel should be spiritual – to get closer to God. When a person holds fast to this goal, clinging to it at all times, even through periods of difficulty and change, God’s bountiful blessings flow in its wake.

In practical terms, when you first make aliyah, you indeed may not be able to make a living as a film producer. You may have to get to know the right people first, learn the language, etc. You may have to make videos of bar mitzvahs and weddings to have some income coming in before you make the bigger, professional films that you are accustomed to producing in NY. Personally, I’ve made some money making videos in Israel for organizations and the Department of Education, and I’ve taught screenwriting at a film school in Jerusalem. I have several friends from the U.S. who work in the film business here on a regular basis, and they seem to be supporting their families. Even so, it may turn out that you won’t be able to find a niche in the film industry in Israel, and you may have to change your profession.

But always remember, “Is God’s hand too short that He cannot provide for you and your family?” Just like He provided for us in the Wilderness, He provides for us still today, each person according to what is best for his needs. Keep saying to yourself, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” These reassuring words of King David should be your mantra during your planning stages and time of transition in Israel.

The main thing about your coming to Israel is not to make finding a job your Number One concern. Let me give two examples. A short time after I had made aliyah, I met an acquaintance from New York who had also recently moved to Israel, but who told me that he was going back to the States. When I asked him why, he explained that before he had moved to Israel, the Israel Aircraft Industries had promised him a more advanced job than his position in America. But when he arrived in the country, they could only give him the same level job he had in the past because of budget cuts. “Why should I stay here when I can get paid almost double in the States for doing the same job?” he told me.

The very next day, I met another friend from New York, who also informed me that he was returning to live in America. It turned out that his boss had been caught in an embezzlement scam and all the people he had hired were fired, including my friend. Even though my friend had been offered a very good job at another firm, he decided to pack his belongings and call it quits.

At the time, before I started studying in yeshiva, I was lodging in Jerusalem at the home of a saintly, 85 year old woman who was one of the secret Tzaddikim of the Holy City. I hadn’t come on aliyah with any savings, having blown my screenplay money on the vices of Hollywood, and this kind woman was happy to take me in as a non-paying boarder. When I asked her why God hadn’t worked things out for my two friends in a more successful fashion, especially since they had made the very idealistic move of immigrating to Israel, she answered: “They placed their careers over their love of the Land. A Jew has to set Jerusalem above his greatest joy. The Jewish People have been shedding their blood for the Land of Israel since the beginning of our history. The Land tests us when we come here. She makes things difficult at first to see if we really love her. Your two friends think that they are rejecting Israel, but Israel is really rejecting them.”

Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, of blessed memory, explained this with a parable. He said it was like a girl who was set up on a shidduch with a guy whom she knew wasn’t for her. But she didn’t want to embarrass him. So she dressed up in dirty, smelly garments so that he would feel turned off. While he thought that he was rejecting her, in truth, she was rejecting him. So too, God, in His kindness, lets Jews who decide to leave Israel believe that they are rejected the Land, but it is really the Land that is rejecting them.

Surely, aliyah is the most difficult and challenging mitzvah – the true test of a Jew’s faith in God. But hundreds of thousands of new olim have made it, and so can you.

Hopefully, other readers will have even better words of advice.

May you remain strong in your holy decision, and may Hashem bless you and your family with success in the great adventure ahead.

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About the Author: Tzvi Fishman was awarded the Israel Ministry of Education Prize for Creativity and Jewish Culture for his novel "Tevye in the Promised Land." For the past several years, he has written a popular and controversial blog at Arutz 7. A wide selection of his books are available at Amazon. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of The Jewish Press

http://www.jewishpress.com/blogs/felafel-on-rye/the-secret-of-making-a-living-after-making-aliya/2012/11/05/

50 REASONS TO MAKE ALIYAH

I just made a new post this morning about Menachem's visit, but got this in an email today.
Sooooo. AFTER you read this one continue to the next post.

Enjoy Israel = IS-REAL

50 REASONS TO MAKE ALIYAH

A few people challenged me to list 50 reasons to make aliyah. No
problem. Here it is. Like I mentioned, from now on, I'll be blogging
at the JewishPress.com, so after your daily fix at NBN, if you want
an Israel injection straight into your veins, I'll be sharpening my
needles there.

50 Reasons to Make Aliyah
1. To get closer to G-d.
2. To fulfill the Torah commandment to live in the Land of Israel.
3. To perform the mitzvot in the place they were meant to be
performed, and not in a place where we do them as reminders, so that
will still remember how to perform them when we return to the Land.
4. To live in the Land of our Forefathers.
5. To live in the Land of Prophecy.
6. To live in the Land that Hashem promised to the Jews.
7. To break free from being a despised stranger in gentile countries.
8. To escape gentile cultures and the spiritual pollution of the
Diaspora, which clouds and distorts pure Jewish thinking and prayer.
9. To play a part in the ingathering of the exiles.
10. To play a part in Israel's Redemption.
11. To play a part in the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
12. To actualize our daily prayers to return to Israel and thus be
true to the words that I say.
13. To make my wish, "Next year in Jerusalem" a reality.
13. To have a government of Jews.
14. To have a Jewish army.
15. To live in a country according to the Jewish calendar.
16. To live in a country where the official language is Hebrew.
16. So my children won't intermarry.
17. So my grandchildren won't intermarry.
18. So my great grandchildren won't intermarry.
19. To forget about Xmas.
20. To erase the Chillul Hashem of living in a foreign land, where the
gentiles mock G-d, saying that He doesn't have the power to keep His
People in Israel.
21. To live amongst Jews.
22. To live in the place here prayer ascends to Heaven.
23. To live in the place of the Shechinah, the Land that Hashem
watches over from the beginning of the year to the end.
24. To live in the Land where Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaacov lived and are buried.
25. To live in the Land where every place I walk earns me a higher
place in the World to Come.
26. So my children will grow up to be proud Jews.
27. So my children will grow up without dual identities and
schizophrenic complexes.
28. Because Israeli women are the real thing, not trying to be like
shiksas, and Israeli men aren't teenagers who never grow up.
29. Because Israeli mothers still cook meals for the family.
30. Because there is more Torah in Israel than anywhere else in the world.
31. Because there are more Torah Gedolim in Israel than anywhere else
in the world.
32. Because there are more frum communities in Israel than anywhere
else in the world.
33. Because there are more yeshivot, heders, Talmud Torahs, religious
colleges and schools for girls in Israel than anywhere else in the
world.
34. Because the Kohanim bless the congregation each day.
35. Because of the extra mitzvot you can only do in the Land.
36. To become a bigger Jew, ready to give up "the good life" in the
Diaspora in order to become a building of our Nation in our Land, even
if it means sacrifice, rather than living a small private life
motivated by my own personal interests and pleasures.
37. To live in a place where my taxes support yeshivot, Tzahal, Jewish
charity organizations, terror victims, Jewish hospitals, the city of
Jerusalem, the ingathering of the exiles….
38. To be near Jerusalem.
39. To be near the Kotel.
40. To be in the place where the Jewish holidays are natural to the
climate of the Land.
41. Because of the beautiful biblical scenery.
42. Because the food is great with the most delicious kosher pastries
and cakes in the world.
43. Because you can get bagels there too.
44. Because radio broadcasts begin in the morning with "Shema Yisrael."
45. Because of the modern apartments and fantastic villas.
46. Because of the thriving economy.
47. Because Israel's an international leader in high-tech.
48. Because of the excellent medical care.
49. Because of the respect for the elderly.
50. Because that's where I truly belong and where G-d wants me to be.

Menachem's Here!

Menachem Walfish came to visit us! He was on a trip with a group and his Rebbe, Rabbi Leible Kellerman. Besides learning about midos mind and the soul, they learn about the body as well.
They had to get into shape for a few months to run 10 kil. I am impressed to say the least that Menachem stuck to it and got into shape to do so.

On Fri we went to Eitz Hachaim cemetery to visit, Opa & Oma, Uncle Davi Srulowitz and Aunt Ani

It's a popular place, people are dying to get in there.

Then we got back to RBS to go for a bike ride and to show Menachem what some of us do here.
I broke some ribs Apr 1 riding my bike on the road when I hit a curb and flew off and slammed into the guard rail. B"H it's now much better, and I have been ridding easy to get back into it. Now I'm trying to commit to 3 rides  a week. Mon Wed and Fri.
We will see how it goes. We have 150 other bikers in RBS mostly mountain biking, which is way nicer then the road, better exercise and safer. We have a yahoo group where we post rides, http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/rbsbiking/ and we all track our rides with a GPS program called http://www.endomondo.com We can share our past rides and keep track of tracks, speed distance, calories burned, and see other riders in real time.
Menachem rode with Yosef and me on Fri and had a nice 1st ride.
You can see our ride mapped on the interactive map here:

 

We road right before Shabbos when is was cooler. We then had a nice shabbos. Sun Menachem came to Mishna Shiur with me in the morning, than when to Beit Guvrin to see some ancient underground caves and cities. We then came back to RBS picked up Yehuda from Gan and took him to another local hike to Khirbet Qeiyafa know in the Tenach (Shmuel) as Sharayim (2 gates) this is a fortress about 10 min from RBS that dates back to before the 1st temple and was part of Dovid Hamelechs kingdom. It's one of the oldest walled in cities in Israel. Amazingly a lot of the wall is still there. You can see RBS Gimel from it See http://qeiyafa.huji.ac.il/

Menachem then had a great week. Unfortunately when he was running He lost his  bag with his passport and camera so lost lots of photos of the trip.
He was in Yerushalaim for Shabbos and stayed by Ali and Rechi Motzei Shabbat and sun night.

Mon. morning he got a new passport from the US consulate in Jerusalm then came to RBS. We toured RBS Gimel and saw them building a new city then went home and rested. We then went for a nice ride though Emek Haaela, where Doivd and Goliyath had their battle.

We road though apricot orchards with thousands of trees.

Menachem was amazed at how much wheat was grown in the fields.

 We stopped for mincha under a tree which was likely where Dovid Hamelech hung out.

After practicing some downs and ups.

We were ready for the Big downhill ride!

We road till the sun came down. Then called Elkie who was so kind to come pick us up about 15 kil away.

Then I drove him to the airport. Next one the comes here can get the same tour, you just have to start getting into shape. Who's NEXT???

Reuniting with part of your soul

I wasn't sure if I should write about this, but if it can help anyone it's worth it.

I haven't blogged in a long time, but this is about a major event for me and perhaps worth the time.

So here it goes:

Last Sunday night I had a wedding in Einat about 5 miles from Petah Tikva.

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As you may be aware, my family came to Israel from 1980 -1983 and lived in Petah Tikva. I was 11-14 year old and Bar Mitzvah in Israel. My father was working on the Lavi Jet fighter the most sophisticated air to air combat fighter created in it's time. We had a plan to stay for the duration of that project.

I was in 6-8th grade and B"H adjusted pretty quickly. I had a very good childhood and life during those years. It was very simple real and pure. Although most of us liked it very much, when the three years were over we ended up moving back to the USA

I had a gig Sunday night that ended at 11:00PM. The wedding in Enat was for a very close friends daughter who said the wedding will go to 1:00AM. I was in my car at 11:04PM moving it to Einat. B"H there was no traffic. I took route 6 Israels only toll road and was there at 11:40PM. Very nice wedding I got to dance and hang out a bit and left about 1:30AM.

I decided to take route 40 back, the FREE road and was heading towards my old home town Petah Tikva. I was thinking of stopping by my old apartment but it was late and I wasn't sure how to get there...

As I passed the entrances to Petah Tikva from route 40 I said, what the heck I'm 5 min away and I am never here. I made a right turn off 40 pulled over where I got some WIFI, loaded the map of Petah Tikva in my iphone and found my old street Rechov Hanisiim.

I followed the GPS and got there in 5 min. I noticed the shul we used to davened in Munkatz which was VERY dirty and black on parts of it, in the need of a major paint job. I remember it white and new looking from 29 years ago.

I parked across the street from the apartments and looked at it for a minute or so.

I wasn't sure if I should get out, but said hey I'm here what the heck. So I got out crossed the street and walked into the Driveway of building 24

For the first 2 years we lived in 24 then moved to the building next door 26. Those 2 buildings and 28 share a pool in the back which was a nice arrangement. I and my brother Naftoli learned to swim there.

It was now after 2:00AM and I was walking around downstairs just checking out the outside. The door was locked so I could not get in. My brothers Naftoli Shimmy and I used to play outside a lot and I was trying hard to remember what it was like.

I remember playing marbles outside with Naftoli and wasn't quite sure exactly where we played. After a few minutes I headed to the pool in the back which was locked and over to the next building 26. I really wanted to remember and connect to the past, so I asked Hashem to help me remember that little boy. When I got to the side of the building I saw a patch of fresh looking dirt which looked like the spot we played marbles.

I knelt down to the ground and touched the soft dirt where I was certain now that we had played many hours of marbles, trying to get them from one ditch to the other.

At the moment Baaaam! I felt this pulse of energy go though me. It's hard to describe but it was a very powerful sensation. I started to tear a bit and continued to think about the little boy who use to play there for hours.

I got up and headed back towards the car across the street, got in an closed the door. I started to cry and cry and cry some more. It kept getting more and more intense until it was completely out of my control. I did not understand exactly what was going in why I was crying so deeply. After about 15 minutes I looked in the mirror my facial muscles were all contracted extremely tightly, tears were flowing and flowing out of my eyes. I found a roll of toiled paper B"H and kept unrolling it more and more.

My first instinct was in the negative, that perhaps I did not achieve what I could have in life and along those lines. After a good 1/2 hour of this. I tried my wife Elkie once and got the voice mail. Then again a few minutes later and she picked up. I was hardly able to talk and was still crying, she asked what going on thought I was in an accident, and wanted to know where I was.

I told here where I was and slowly started to tell her what happened so far. I still wasn't sure why I was crying and so intensely. What I did know at that point is that it hurts. I kept telling her over and over it hurts its hurts so much... But it was not a physical pain in any way.

After going though the 29 years since the last time I lived there, I realized that there were plenty of accomplishments in my life, and that's not what what this was about.

When I left Israel in 1983 I did not think much about it, I was just a fact of life. We all came back to America and life went on. I went to one bad high school and another bad one. At least I had good family and friends and got though it all. I created a successful business got married had children and generaly things seemed ok.

But apparently they were not ok for that little boy. Even though I was unconscious of this for 29 years, that little boy that was once me, never got over the move away from Israel.

It's like I left a marble there looked for it and found it, but instead I was looking for that little boy and found a piece of my soul in that place. It's like it was stuck and abandon there for 29 years. B"H I never mourned for a close one, but this felt like that and more.

I eventually calmed down a bit stayed on the phone with Elkie checked out my old school and made it back home early in the morning.

The next day I spoke with a very smart Rabbi I know who has written seforim about souls the 5 parts of them and how they work. He essentially concurred with me and helped clarify the experience. I was not regretting 29 years of my life. Apparently the ages that I was in Israel 11-14 are very important years in the spiritual and mental development of a child.

The way he explained it is, I and probably my younger brother, established strong ROOTS in Israel and in that place. When we were taken away from there to America it was literally like ripping a tree out of the ground severing it from the roots still in the ground.

Apparently I was not aware of how traumatic this event was, I never felt it consciously or likely I ignored it and put it out of my mind so as not to feel the pain.

As 29 years elapsed the pain piled on interest. What I was feeling now was the intense pain of being spiritually disconnected from a place that I took strong root compiled with interest. I had never properly mourned for it before.

He said that most people who have similar traumatic events will never really relive it face to face like that. I was very fortunate to have this happen and that I can now deal with it since I am aware of what happened.

The interesting thing though is that, I did not have this experience the last times I was there, 2 and 3 years ago. I suggested that perhaps that little kid was in such pain for such a long time that being in Israel now so many years later for a year or two was not enough to let him open up to the adult me. But now that I am here for over 3 years more then he was here, it's like I made this unconscious statement I am here in Israel to stay and will never abandon you again.

I confirmed all this with another amazing Rabbi who also wrote many seforim on similar topics and now found a new friend.

I hope this event can help others face their traumatic events face on and use that very painful experience as an opportunity to heal and grow from it.

B"H I am now back in Israel reunited with my 13 year old root soul after 29 years.

What can be better then that:)